We want you to walk away with from this series with a basic THEORY of the knot pass. Once you understand the theory the hardware choices become secondary. Simply said… once you know the process, and the why for each step, every knot pass is essentially the same. Later on we’ll have all sorts of tips and tricks with improvised tools for knot passes.

For now we broke it into 4 basic blocks and these all apply to twin tension or dedicated belay systems. Just remember to stagger your knots so you don’t have to do simultaneous knot passes.

About The Author:

Craig is a 12 year Search and Rescue veteran in the Pacific Northwest and is the founder of Crackerjack Fire Rescue Specialists. He’s currently a SAR Manager for Deschutes County Oregon, rescue member of the MRA accredited mountain rescue team, an EMT, and specializes in technical and backcountry winter disciplines. He holds an AIARE Avalanche level 2 certification and is an expert backcountry skier.

Equally comfortable in the field or command, he’s served as the coordinator for the Incident Management team and is the longest standing active SAR Manager. Craig serves on the Curriculum Committee of the Oregon State Sheriff’s Association Search and Rescue Advisory Council, and is a co-author and instructor of the state SAR Incident Management program. In 2013 he was recognized as the state SAR Volunteer of the Year. He is also a sworn Reserve Deputy and in addition to uniformed patrol works seasonally as a snowmobile patrol deputy. He is certified NRA Range Safety Officer. Craig brings a solid perspective on leadership, objective based management, and great personal experience as a field operator to Rigging Lab Academy.